Up to 500 schools across France will be totally or partly closed on Monday due to protests by teenage pupils that have shaken the country. Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced that lessons will be suspended in some 400-500 high schools as security conditions have not been fulfilled. This decision comes after a wave of protests that began at a Paris school on September 17 and grew into nationwide demonstrations marked by violence and clashes with security forces.
The protests, led by high school students, or lycéens, are driven by grievances including high teacher absences, overlong school days, and dilapidated facilities. Students claim that these issues are ruining their studies. Geffray stated that the number of schools affected on Monday would be comparable to the figure from Friday, but vowed there would be a partial, progressive return to lessons. The minister also reported that 24 schools had been burned or ransacked since the start of the movement.
The protests have been marked by outbursts of violence, with teenagers and security forces clashing, and police using tear gas and batons to disperse the children. Geffray alleged that activists, particularly from the far-left, have infiltrated the high school student movement, hijacked it, and engaged in extreme violence. This has raised concerns about the safety of students and staff, with 78 education staff members wounded, a number unprecedented according to the minister.
The violence has been condemned by many, with critics accusing police of heavy-handed tactics. Over 5,000 people, 85 percent of them minors, have been arrested since the start of the movement. A 16-year-old was detained on Sunday over the assault of a teacher in the southern town of La Ciotat. The teacher, 59, was doused with gasoline and struck on the sidelines of a high school student protest on Friday, sparking widespread outrage.
Organisers have called for the protests to continue on Tuesday, citing a lack of concrete measures from the government. Geffray claimed that the activists deliberately targeted education staff because they were employees of the national education system. The situation remains volatile, with concerns about the safety of students, staff, and the overall impact on the education system.
The protests have sparked a national debate about the state of education in France and the government's response to student grievances. While some have condemned the violence, others have called for the government to address the underlying issues driving the protests. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the students, government, and education system are at a critical juncture.
As the protests continue, the French government faces increasing pressure to find a solution to the crisis. With hundreds of schools closed and thousands of students involved, the impact on education and society as a whole is significant. The government will need to balance the need for order and security with the need to address the legitimate concerns of students and teachers, and find a way to restore stability to the education system.
Key points
- Up to 500 French schools to close Monday due to student protests.
- Protests driven by grievances including high teacher absences, long school days, and poor facilities.
- Over 5,000 people, mostly minors, arrested since start of movement.
